NORTH OAK CLIFF, Texas — As development pressures increase, residents of the Stevens Park Village neighborhood are advocating for zoning regulations to preserve the area’s unique character.
Located off Hampton Road, just minutes from downtown Dallas, Stevens Park Village is drawing attention from developers attracted by its prime location. Some locals worry that this interest could lead to inappropriate development, such as oversized homes that don’t fit the neighborhood’s charm.
Donovan Westover is leading a neighborhood committee that is pushing for Stevens Park Village to be designated as a ‘Conservation District.’ Westover believes that as land values rise, investors will be tempted to replace the area’s small homes with larger, more profitable structures. His goal is to prevent such changes and maintain the neighborhood’s original feel.
Resident Trudy Newton, who lives in a 1941 cottage with original wood floors, solar panels, and a garden of native Texas plants, is among those keen to protect the neighborhood’s character. She appreciates the area’s 1940s architecture, which reminds her of her childhood in Nebraska.
The committee’s efforts aim to establish Stevens Park Village as a conservation district, which would impose additional development and architectural regulations to preserve the area’s historic charm. According to city guidelines, a conservation district must include homes that are at least 25 years old.
The proposed boundaries reflect the neighborhood’s original layout from 1939, featuring cottages built primarily before World War II. The committee needs to collect signatures from at least 58% of the impacted community within a year to move forward. Westover reports they have already gathered more than the required signatures and are continuing to engage with residents to build support.
If the signatures are verified, the proposal will go through several neighborhood and city committee meetings before potentially being presented to the city council for a vote. Currently, there are eight conservation districts in Oak Cliff, out of a total of 18.
Not everyone supports the initiative. Steven and Cinthia Shnayder, who moved to the neighborhood in 2021, argue that the conservation district’s focus on aesthetics overrides property rights. Steven Shnayder feels that property owners should have the freedom to make changes to their homes, even if it means building larger structures.
The Shnayders are also concerned about the petition process, questioning the lack of clarity about the specific regulations that will be enforced. They would be more inclined to support the measure if they had a clear understanding of what the conservation district would entail.
City regulations for conservation districts include controls on garage locations, landscaping, paint colors, and architectural features. The Stevens Park Village committee has proposed a set of regulations aimed at preserving architectural styles, ensuring material compatibility, and regulating building height and setbacks.
Westover emphasizes that the process is democratic and compliant with city rules. “Anyone has the right to oppose it,” he said. “But we’re following the rules set by the city, and we have the right to pursue this.”
